“Larry Long, ‘Living in a Rich Man’s World’ video. The good-hearted, liberal-minded Minneapolis singer-songwriter has rearranged his 37-year-old folk song as a Don Henley-like rocker, with Melvin James’ guitar punctuating the potent words and poignant visuals.”
—Jon Bream
Star Tribune: Pick Six
Sunday, July 10, 2016
*Pick Six is a half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view.
The death of Philando Castile is personal, as I’m sure it is for many of you. Mr. Castile went to High School with my oldest daughter. I didn’t know Philando, but what I do know is that he was a good man with a bright future. The senseless killings we have witnessed in the last few weeks alone in St.Paul, Orlando and Dallas is beyond the pale. The time has come to recommit ourselves to the daily practice of nonviolence, as we continue to work towards a world where no child is born to lose.
I met Clark McGuiness on the Nebraska plains, while working on a combine crew for three months from Burkburnett, Texas to Scranton, North Dakota. We called ourselves wheat whackers and what we did is cut wheat, cut wheat, cut wheat, and then cut more wheat.
The wheat in the fields stood ten feet high. The tassels waved golden in streams of currents from the prairie winds. After the combines came through there was nothing left of them, but barren stubbles cut close to the ground.
This photograph of mother and child was taken in the heart of the Amazon region near the confluence of the Solimoes and Negro Rivers, which joins to form the Amazon River. After performing in Manaus, Brazil I traveled by boat with her family downriver, where fresh water dolphins swim freely. The shoreline an endless sea of green filled with choral beds of music. Everything alive and breathing. As we walked from the boat through the rainforest I was told that Jaguars might be hiding in the shadows. After we drank water from vines cut with a machete and swam in waters filled with piranhas I took this photo. The kindness of the indigenous people of Brazil is beyond measure.
This photo of Slater Huff Jr., taken by Andrew Goetz, is a featured image in Larry’s new Living In A Rich Man’s World video. Mr. Huff was born July 6, 1924 in Packers Bend, Alabama, which is located on the banks of the Alabama River. Most of the folks who live there are direct descendents from slaves who grew cotton on the King-Garrett Plantation. When the State of Alabama refused to build a bridge across the river to their small rural community, Slater’s father built a ferry of his own to take people across.
Smithsonian Folkways Recording Artist, activist, community-builder and troubadour, Larry Long, brings his popular American Roots Revue to the FGC Gathering on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 – 7:00pm to 8:45pm
Join Larry Long and an all-star cast at the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua near Bayfield, Wisconsin on Sunday, July 24, 2016 at 7:30 pm, as they honor one of the world’s most influential folksingers, Pete Seeger, celebrating the many phases of his life in song, spoken word, and multi-media. Featuring Prudence Johnson, Kevin Kling, Dan Chouinard, Larry Long and the Blue Canvas Orchestra.
Saturday, May 21 is going to be epic! Free books. Live storytelling, poetry and music. A 100-Library build. Free haircuts for kids. Larry Long will be present with his friends and guests to absorb the spirit of the Little Free Library Festival that they will transform into a “Lyrical Mural” to be performed at the close of the day.
Larry Long will be performing his song, Blest DeGalynn, in honor of DeGalynn Wade Sanders at her memorial on Friday, May 20th. DeGalynn passed away May, 14th, at age 43. She had a vibrant and caring spirit. She was an attorney, mentor and volunteer. DeGalynn was an honor student, and one of the initial Page Scholars.
The World Premier of Living In A Rich Man’s World Music Video will be Saturday, April 23, 2016, 7 PM, at Selvamar Studios in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Film Directed by Bob Trench. Music and Lyrics by Larry Long. Sound Recording Produced by Melvin James. Living In A Rich Man’s World is one of eleven original songs featured on a soon to be released sound recording by Larry Long. Premier of Living In A Rich Man’s World music video in the U.S.A. to be announced.
Join Larry Long and Joe Savage for an evening of stories and songs benefiting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA), started by Woody Guthrie’s wife Marjorie in 1967. May 14, 2016 • 7:00 pm, doors open at 6:15 Celtic Junction | 836 Prior Ave. N. | St. Paul, MN
Join Kent Nerburn and Larry Long on Friday, February 19, 2016, 7:00 – 8:30 PM for an evening of songs, stories and music that expresses how their time with First Nations peoples has changed their hearts and transformed their lives.
DeGalynn Wade Sanders continues to battle cancer. So her friends, family and well known Minnesota musicians are stepping up to help lift her spirits and defray mounting medical and related expenses. Join us at Pepito’s Cantina on January 20, 2016 from 5:30 to 10:00 pm for a night of great music, food and laughter. Music will be from 7:00 to 8:00 pm and will include soul and gospel singer Tonia Hughes, jazz chanteuse Debbie Duncan, singer-songwriter and American Roots Revue producer Larry Long, legendary gospel powerhouse Robert Robinson and keyboard player Martial Besombes.
Larry Long and Waubanewquay, Lead Woman singer for Center Fire in the Three Fires Midewiwin (Heartway) will be ushering in 2016 in ceremony, story and song on December 31st at Gandhi Mahal Restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Address: 3009 27th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406 (612) 729-5222
On Friday, November 20th Larry Long’s American Roots Revue will feature a line up that includes Grammy winning fingerpicker Pat Donohue, well known for his almost 20 years as the guitarist and songwriter on “A Prairie Home Companion.” Donohue joins award-winning singer-songwriter and community builder Larry Long, gospel and soul singer Tonia Hughes, and American Roots anchor artist Robert Robinson.
Smithsonian Folkways Recording Artist, activist, community-builder and troubadour, Larry Long, brings his popular American Roots Revue series to the Big Top in a multi-cultural celebration of the music of this country. Joining Larry on Thursday, September 10th, are Anishinabe and Oneida Hip-Hop Artist, Tall Paul; the ‘Pavarotti’ of Gospel, Robert Robinson; and Midewiwin Native Life Ways Singer & Keeper of the Song, Waubanewquay Day. American Roots Revue works from the core of America’s richest musical traditions of First Nation, gospel, blues, folk, rock, R&B, spoken word & Hip-Hop, presenting “Songs of Water and of the Land, Songs of Freedom, Struggle, and Sovereignty.”